For Joseph Hulsey, life after treatment for prostate cancer is much the
same as it was before. But in 2013, he had quite a scare when he was diagnosed
with the disease.
His urologist recommended surgery, but Mr. Hulsey’s seven heart stents
would have made what was already a complex procedure even more so. He
then learned that CyberKnife®, a non-invasive robotic surgery system
designed to destroy tumors with intense, extremely precise beams of radiation,
was available at the Southeast Georgia Health System Cancer Care Center
in Brunswick.
Mr. Hulsey first spoke with Brenda Vashaw, R.N., BSN, OCN, CyberKnife
nurse navigator at the Health System. “She was great,” said
Mr. Hulsey. “All of my questions were answered and everything was
thoroughly explained.”
According to his doctor, Timothy A. Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., board-certified
radiation oncologist and medical director, Cancer Care Centers, “Most
patients return to their regular activities almost immediately after treatment.
There’s virtually no downtime at all.”
Mr. Hulsey received five CyberKnife treatments in one week, each lasting
under an hour. He spent two weeks in the Brunswick area, a f ive-hour
drive from his home. He reported a painless treatment process and excellent
hospital services, and all is proceeding well 18 months later.